Improvement in compound implements



W. H. SPRAGUE. Compound Implement.

N0.198,524. Patented Dec. 25, I877.

WITNESSES" W- V B S- m idAATToRNEm WILLIAM H. SPRAGUE,

CLEVELAND, oHIo.

IMPRGVE'MENT: IN COMPOUND ll VIP LEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,524, dated December25, 1877; application filed 4 November 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SPRAGUE, of Cleveland, in the county ofGuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Compound Tool; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to a compound tool or implement for office use,whereby pens may befixed in or removed fiom their holders; also, wherebypaper may be pierced for the introduction of fasteners or temporarybinders; also, whereby said fasteners or binders may be adjusted andfixed in proper binding ,condition.

Said invention consists in the following parts and combinations, ashereinafter speck fied and claimed.

A and A are the two arms of a forceps pivoted at a. To one arm is madethe roundtopped lug or projection B, which, when the forceps are closed,enters a more or less counterpart-shaped concavity, B, in the otherforcep-arm.

The arrangement B B may be placed either in front of or behind thefulcrum a, and the function of the parts B B is to grasp and firmlyretain a pen, so that it may be placed in or removed from its holder.

O is a perforator, which may be a blade or a stiletto. This is firmlyattached to one jaw of the forceps, and may be made either straight orcurved. e

As the forceps are closed the blade .0 is permitted to pass through anopening made in the opposite forcepjaw. The function of this portion ofmy device is to perforate paper or other substance placed between theforcep jaws, and this is accomplished in a manner too obvious tonecessitate further description.

Between the blade 0 and fulcrum a the opposing faces of the forcep-jawsare made flat,

so that when closed they shall come face to face together.

A similar construction obtains for a short distance-say, from one-halfto one and onehalf inchforward of the blade, as indicated at D in thedrawings.

One forcep jaw has an entirely flat face throughout its entire length,while the other jaw at its extremity is formed into a V shape, with theridge, comb, or apex facing the opposite jaw-face.

The operation of my device as regards the parts last specified is asfollows: After the papers have been perforated by the blade 0, thefastener or binder is placed in said perforation to be subsequentlyoperated upon.

For purposes of illustration we will suppose said binder to be thewell-known McGill fastener. After this fastener has been introduced intothe perforation above mentioned, the pointed ends are separated fromeach other and spread apart by introducing between them the V-shapedforcep blade. This operation only separates the binder-points partially;but when thus partially separated they are placed further into theforcep-jaws, between the flat faces thereof, and now, when the forcepsare closed, the pointed ends of the fastener are completely opened andflattened down upon the paper, and the operation of binding iscompleted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device; Fig. 2, anend view of said device, showing the peculiar V-shaped constructionformed on the extremity of one of the jaws, as above specified; alsoshowing the function of primarily opening or spreading apart the pointsof the paper-fastener.

Any spring or other device may be employed, if wished, whereby the jawsand handles shall be kept open, and that shall act to automatically openand release the device after every operation.

What I claim is- 1. In a compound implement, the combination, with onearm of the forceps formed with the round-topped projection B, of the Intestimony whereof I have signed my second arm provided with thecounterpart name to this specification inthe presence of concavity B,the two adapted to clamp a pen two subscribing witnesses.

for purpose of insertion or removal from its holder, substantially asset forth. WM. H. SPRAGUE.

2. The compound implement herein specified, having the devices forplacing and re- Witnesses:

moving pens, for perforating paper, and for F. TOUMEY,

fixing temporary paper fasteners or binders, W. E. DONNELLY,

substantially as shown.

